Old Crow Medicine Show To Bring Crowd Favorites To Fayetteville

They play acoustic instruments, but their intensity and volume can equal an electric rock band.

The members of Old Crow Medicine Show will prove their on-stage worth with a concert at 7:30 p.m. May 4 at the Arkansas Music Pavilion at the Washington County Fairgrounds, 2536 N. McConnell Ave. in Fayetteville. The award-winning band will play a set list that gathers new originals, a couple of cover songs and its gold-selling single, “Wagon Wheel,” said Critter Fuqua, who plays guitar, banjo and accordion for the group.

“Ah yes, there is a ‘Wagon Wheel’ guarantee for the fans at this show,” said the 35-year-old musician during a recent telephone interview. “People are going to hear that and a lot of classic Crow stuff at this show. We like to play the classic stuff and a whole lot of songs from the new album, ‘Carry Me Back,’ too.”

The band’s first studio CD in five years, “Carry Me Back” was recorded in Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville. The laid-back experience was inspiring to Fuqua and his bandmates.

“Sound Emporium is a nice space,” he said. “It’s hard to explain, but it has a really good vibe, and a lot of great records were made there in that studio.”

Fuqua said he can’t wait to perform the new material in Fayetteville.

“Playing new stuff is always good to an artist and the audience,” he said. “We give the audience what they want, but we also have to keep it exciting for us. When it’s exciting for the band, it’s exciting for the audience, too.”

When asked about his band’s musical skills, Fuqua gave a nervous chuckle.

“For me, I don’t know that I’m that good now,” he said with a laugh. “I can get the job done, but we’ve played with guys like The Del McCoury Band, and last night we played with The Black Crowes, and all of those guys are such great musicians.”

Fuqua than laughed again.

“Me, I do the claw rhythm on my instrument,” he said while still laughing. “But I do find that, usually, if you’re not technically proficient, it’s almost better. You’re not trying to play things and do things that you’re not able to do. For us, we each are a piece of the band that drives it, and we have our own sound.”

As always, OCMS fans can expect to hear cover songs on the new tour, Fuqua said. The interpretations of other people’s material often occur in the group’s encore, he said.

“We like to do regional favorites when we play live,” Fuqua said. “You never know. There could be an Arkansas-related song that pops up in the night when we play Fayetteville. It’ll definitely be a fun time for us and for the audience members.”

In Concert

Old Crow Medicine Show

When: 7:30 p.m. May 4

Where: Arkansas Music Pavilion at the Washington County Fairgrounds, 2536 N. McConnell Ave. in Fayetteville.